Outcomes Analysis
Azar distinguishes Protracted Social Conflicts as those which result
in negative-sum outputs in which there is often no clear end-point
and no clear winner, yet alone a solution that comes anywhere near in
meeting unmet needs.
‘The process of protracted social conflict deforms and retards the
effective operation of political institutions. It reinforces and
strengthens pessimism throughout the society, demoralises leaders and
immobilizes the search for peaceful solutions. We have observed that
societies undergoing protracted social conflict find it difficult to
initiate the search for answers to their problems and grievances. As
the protracted social conflict becomes part of the culture of the
ravaged nation, it builds a sense of paralysis which afflicts the
collective consciousness of the population. An environment of
hopelessness permeates all strata of society, and a siege mentality
develops which inhibits constructive negotiation for any resolution
of society.”13
Azar points us to four possible consequences of PSC:
Deterioration of physical security 2) Institutional Deformity
Psychological Ossification 4)Increased Dependency &
Cliency
1
Azar, E., The Management of Protracted Social Conflict: Theory &
Cases, Aldershot, Dartmouth, 1990 p12.
2
Ibid p1.
3
Ibid, p7.
4
Ibid, p7.
5
Ibid.
6
Ibid, p7-8.
7
Ibid, p11.
8
Ibid.
9
Ibid.
10
Ibid p13-14.
11
Ibid, p14.
12
Ibid, p15.
13
Ibid, p 16,
